Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed that the 2026 World Cup will be his last. In an interview with CNN, the 40-year-old Portuguese, who is currently nearing the 1,000-goal mark in his career, said he expects to retire from active football in a year or two.
Ronaldo said he feels in good physical shape and wants to enjoy every moment on the pitch. He stressed that during his 25-year career he has achieved everything, breaking many records at club and national level.
"The 2026 World Cup will definitely be the last World Cup for me. I will be 41 years old then. In football I try to enjoy every moment to the fullest. For 25 years I have done everything. I hold many records, both at the collective and national level. I am really happy, so I want to live in the present and enjoy it.
"I want to continue because I feel good and my body is in good shape. My goal in football is the same as in life, which is to make people happy. Let's be honest, though, when I say I'm going to retire soon, I mean in a year or two," Ronaldo declared.
Portugal is very close to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals, where Ronaldo is expected to participate for the sixth time.